New condos, restaurant planned for Y building

Wednesday

Six months after the offer to buy the YMCA building on Main Street was accepted, the Historical Commission last week endorsed plans to renovate the historic site.

Six months after the offer to buy the YMCA building on Main Street was accepted, the Historical Commission last week endorsed plans to renovate the historic site. With a contract agreement in place, handled by attorney Brian McGrail, the request for permitting will now go before the Zoning Board of Appeals on June 13.

Purchased by Ralph LeVita, owner of Artichokes Ristorante Trattoria in Malden under the principal name Wakefield Commons, LLC, for a yet undisclosed sum, LeVita plans to duplicate his successful Italian restaurant on the first floor of the Y building and build eight condominium units on the second floor. Five of them will be 700-840 square feet, and three will be 1,400 square feet.

The structure, built in 1909, currently has an Olympic sized pool that will be removed and turned into a parking garage. The restaurant will have seating for 75 guests.

According to Nancy Bertrand, the Historical Commission’s only concern was the type of windows the developer Michael Touchette and architect Joseph LaGrasse had initially planned. But she said the concerns were heard and the plans will be amended.

Happy that two-thirds of building will be preserved in its original neo-colonial style, Bertrand said it is a very important place in town that was built by subscription, or contributions of nickels and dimes, from those who felt it was important to have a YMCA in town.

Bertrand said its style inspired the design of the post office and the library in what was once the thriving commercial part of the community. The Y building is also near the site of the former tin factory that was owned by the infamous Eurrage Yale — an unsuccessful political candidate who eventually became postmaster, and for whom Yale Street is named.

McGrail said that hopefully the permitting process can be accomplished in one meeting and construction could commence before the end of the summer.

Newly elected selectmen vice-chairman Betsy Sheeran welcomes the addition. “I think it will add a lot to the downtown area,” she said.